Nation
Your Security Agents Can’t Stop Us, PDP Coalition Tells Matawalle
A socio-political organization, the Peoples Democratic Party Coalition (PDPCO), has expressed concern on the prevailing happenings in Zamfara State following the alleged undemocratic display of Governor Bello Matawalle and security agents.
The coalition berated Matawalle and security operatives, who have been accused of intimidating and harassing the sitting Deputy Governor of the state, Barrister Aliyu Gusau.
The PDPCO warned that the wanton harassment and intimidation of Gusau by the hired security agents will not stop the Peoples Democratic Party from reclaiming her mandate from Mattawalle, who voluntarily decamped to APC in defiance to legal implications of such deed in the eyes of the law.
In a release signed by its the National Coordinator, Chief Emeka Kalu, and made available to newsmen, yesterday, the coalition frowned at the activities of Matawalle, and posited that the Zamfara helmsman and cohorts should be properly guided to work in line with the rules of engagement and not to allow desperation and high handedness to drag them into partisan politics they swore not to be part of.
It queried, “How can the police display attitudes to cow the deputy governor from performing his statutory assigned functions? Let the police be informed that they are mandated to protect the life and rights of the deputy governor knowing full well that our party has gone to court to reclaim her mandate from Mattawale.
Continuing, the group added, “It is time our security operatives should learn that defence of the tenets of the constitution is their chief responsibility not to sentimentally work in favour of a given party or set of persons. This character effrontery truncates viable democracy and sets bad examples for a nation, especially Nigeria that is currently going through a deluge of frailties and political decadence”.
The PDPCO thanked the people of Zamfara for keeping faith with the Peoples Democratic Party, urging them to remain calm as their mandate cannot be taken to the glory of another party.
The socio-political body further made it clear that, “PDP under this coalition and vanguard movement and the entire national leadership of the party are very much set and prepared to defend her mandate, also defend you with the last drop of engagement within the confines of the law to ensure justice is done and seen to have been done”.
It would be recalled that Zamfara State Governor, Dr Bello Matawalle, had two weeks ago, dumped the PDP for the governing APC, which prompted the former led by Gusau to restrategise to reclaim her mandates.
Gusau had ignored defecting alongside his principal, reiterating his loyalty to the PDP.
The Senate yesterday approved the bills for the establishment of Federal University of Medical and Health Sciences and College of Education, Bende at its plenary session.
The two bills sponsored by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon . Benjamin Kalu came to the Senate for concurrence after the approvals from the House of Representatives.
The Deputy Leader of the Senate, Sen. Lola Ashiru in the absence of the Majority Leader presented the recommendations of the Lower Chamber for consideration and Concurrence .
The Bill for an Act to establish Federal College of Education, Bende in Abia State seeks to provide full-time courses, training in technology, applied sciences, commerce, social sciences, arts and humanities among others.
Kalu had in his lead debate stated that Bende has remained undivided since its creation in 1976, even though with the size of four local government areas as found in comparative federal constituencies.
“Despite its strategic location in Abia and sharing a border with Akwa Ibom, with a growing population and landmass, there is no tertiary institution in the Federal Constituency operated either by Federal or State Government. Bende deserves to have the presence of a tertiary institution to serve the education need of the teeming youthful population, especially now that the need for well-trained educationists has risen. This is accompanied by the need to fill the gaps created by both the consequences of brain drain and the lack of qualified educationists to provide quality training at all levels of education,” he said.
For the bill seeking the establishment of Federal University of Medical and Health Sciences, Bende, Abia State, he said when it becomes law, the university will be charged with the responsibility to, among other things, offer full-time training leading to the award of degrees in medical and health sciences.
Nneka Amaechi-Nnadi
South East Caucus of the Senate has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immorttalise late Professor Humphrey Nwosu considering his commitment to achieving a practical democracy for Nigerian.
The Senators visibly angered by the Senate’s rejection of the need to immortalise the late National Electoral umpire who stood for democracy through the turbulent 1993 elections stormed out of the Senate Chambers and spoke to the press .
The Chairman of the South East Caucus, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe ( Abia South), as he did in plenary on Wednesday, presented a motion for immortalisation of Humphrey Nwosu by naming the national headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC) , after him , for laying the foundation in 1993 and conducting the freest and fairest Presidential election in the country .
The late Professor Nwosu was the National Chairman of the National Electoral Commission ( NEC) , now known as Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC) , who through option A4, conducted the June 12, 19993 presidential election , adjudged to be the freest and fairest in the country.
Abaribe in the motion co – sponsored by 15 other Senators , said late Humphrey Nwosu deserved to be immortalised like other heroes of the June 12 , 1993 presidential election .
He also urged the Federal Government to honour the late former electoral umpire with post humous national honours .
But Abaribe’s request , seconded by Senator Victor Umeh (Anambra Central) and supported by Senators from the South East including forner Senate Leader, Yahaya Abdullahi ( Kebbi North) , was roundly rejected by other Senators who said the deceased deserved no immortalization .
Specifically , Senator Adams Oshiomhole ( Edo North) , in his contribution to the debate said the motion to him, was nothing but an attempt to manipulate and rewrite history.
“ Professor Humphrey Nwosu as NEC Chairman in 1993, failed to deliver on the June 12 , 1993 Presidential Election for lack of Courage
“ He who is not ready to die for something , will die for nothing
“ If he was afraid of the gun from announcing the election results and winner in 1993 , he cannot be rewarded now , more so, when many Nigerians died for what he inadvertently created “, he said .
Nneka Amaechi -Nnadi
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa, says the Nigerian Military is committed to facilitating sustainable food security in the country through the establishment of farms.
Musa said this in Abuja yesterday during the unveiling of the Defence Farm and Agro-Allied Products Logo.
He noted that the agricultural sector played crucial role in guaranteeing food security which was requisite for sustainable national security.
He said that the adverse impact of climate change, environmental degradation and conflict across some parts of the country had continuously threatened food security with dire consequences on national security.
According to him, to address this, the Defence Headquarters in May 2023, conceptualised the Defence Farm and Agro-Allied Products initiative.
“This is with the aim of keying into the federal government’s efforts at addressing food security challenges in the country.
“The initiative which aligns with the ‘People Centric’ policy thrust of my leadership concept is aimed at creating job opportunities and enhancing rural infrastructural development while significantly contributing to food security in the Country.
“Considering the extensive consultation, planning and preparation made by the committee thus far, I am optimistic that the Defence Farm and Agro-Allied Products initiative will have a positive transformative impact on host communities while enhancing national security.
“With similar initiatives replicated across the country, I envision a future characterised by modernised farming techniques in which the agricultural sector significantly contributes to economic growth and national development.”
The CDS enjoined all members of the Armed Forces and the general public to embrace the initiative and maximise its associated gains.
He expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu, for his sterling leadership and relentless pursuit of national peace, security and economic prosperity.
He also appreciated the efforts of members of the committee who worked assiduously to actualise the initiative.
Earlier, the Chairman, Defence Farms Committee,